Ben Gluck is an American director, screenwriter, and story supervisor for both film and television.

Ben Gluck
Born
Benjamin Gluck

St. Louis Missouri, U.S.
Alma materCalifornia Institute of the Arts
Occupation(s)storyboard artist, screenwriter, film director.
Years active1996–present
Known forPeanuts
Walt Disney Animation Studios

Early life

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Benjamin “Ben" Gluck was born in St. Louis, Missouri. After presenting his art portfolio to Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston during their book tour for Bambi: The Story and the Film, they encouraged Gluck to apply to California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) character animation program. After being accepted, Gluck earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Character Animation from CalArts. Gluck's student film Man's Best Friend won the Walter Lantz Award.[1] at the CalArts Producers Show, where Gluck had the opportunity to thank Thomas and Johnson personally.

Following this recognition, the film premiered globally on MTV,[2] and was featured in Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation. After submitting his portfolio, Gluck received a rare offer from Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios to fund his education and receive a storyboard artist contract position upon graduation.

Career

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Upon graduating CalArts, Gluck immediately obtained a job as a storyboard and visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he contributed as a storyboard artist on the theatrical films Dinosaur, The Emperor's New Groove, and Home on the Range. Before Disney, Gluck was part of DreamWorks Animation first story trainee class, working on The Prince of Egypt.

Gluck was invited to join Disney Television, where he served as the divisions first Head of Story on Bambi II, and helped to adapt A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner into Piglet's Big Movie, both of which received theatrical releases. Gluck also directed Brother Bear 2,[3] which was animated at Disney’s Sydney Australian animation studio.[4]

After Disney, Gluck pursued opportunities to explore different genres and advance animation storytelling. He became Head of Story on the Tim Burton-produced 9 for Focus Features, where he shaped characters and oversaw the story animatic. Roger Ebert gave the film three our of four, contrasting it with the works of Hayao Miyazaki and saying that, the visuals are entrancing."[5] Gluck was also a segment storyboard artist on the acclaimed adaptation of Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet (2014 animated film).

Gluck served as Head of Story for the Peanuts holiday special Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, where he significantly influenced the plot and depicting Lucy’s character with greater introspection. Chuck Wilson from The Village Voice praised the special, saying, Lucy is transformed from a character of nostalgia into a girl as self-reflective and searching as any young person watching the special might be. Her crisis of self is sure to resonate."[6]

Gluck also served as Head of Story for the award-winning Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love. For this project, Gluck was instrumental in promoting the idea that all families should be celebrated, which earned the special a nomination for a Humanitas Prize. Both specials were produced in collaboration with Apple TV +.

Themes

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Gluck has emphasized the significance of representation in family entertainment.[7] Throughout Gluck's career, his body of work has demonstrated his commitment to related themes.[8][9][10]

Filmography

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Year Title Credits Awards
2022 Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love head of story Humanitas Award nominee

Emmy Award Winner

2021 Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne head of story Annie Award nominee: Best Animated Special Production
2015 Strange Magic (film) creative consultant
2015 Madea's Tough Love creative consultant
2014 Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet (2014 film) storyboard artist Winner: The Visionary Award
2013 Battle of the Planets development
2010 Yogi Bear storyboard artist
2009 9 (animated film) head of story VES Award Nominee: Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
2006 Brother Bear 2 director Winner: Annie Award: Best Screenplay
2006 Bambi II head of story Winner: Annie Award for Best Home Entertainment Production
2004 Home on the Range storyboard artist
2003 Piglet's Big Movie storyboard artist
2001 The Emperor's New Groove storyboard artist
2000 Dinosaur storyboard artist
2000 Clerks: The Animated SeriesSeason 1/Episode 2: Wherein Dante and Randle are Locked in the Freezer storyboard artist
2000 Rugrats (TV) Season 8/Episode 3: Don't Poop On My Parade storyboard artist Winner: Daytime Emmy Award
1998 The Prince of Egypt storyboard artist
1996 MTV's Cartoon Sushi
forth episode: Man's Best Friend
creator/animator Winner: Walter and Gracie Lantz “Woody Award”

Television

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  • Man's Best Friend (TV) (1996)
  • Rugrats (TV) (2000)
  • Clerks: The Animated Series (2001)
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References

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  1. "CalArts Magazine Fall/Winter 2009". Issue.[permanent dead link]
  2. "Ben Gluck - Mafab.hu". Mafab.hu.
  3. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2006/08/brother-bear-2-due-at-months-end/
  4. https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/disney-to-axe-sydney-studio-20050727-gdlray.html
  5. Ebert, Roger (2009-09-09). "9". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-06.
  6. "It's Lucy's Party in New Peanuts 'For Auld Lang Syne' Holiday Special". 28 December 2021.
  7. https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_October_2010/page/n15/mode/2up
  8. https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/new-peanuts-special-has-lgbt-message-some-kids-even-have-2-moms.html
  9. https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_September_2006/page/20/mode/2up
  10. https://archive.org/details/Animation_Magazine_October_2010/page/n15/mode/2up

Other websites

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